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Nineteenth century photographers—not one of whom devoted themselves exclusively or even largely to baseball as a subject—were sometimes able to capture stunning images in their studios by manipulating lighting, pose, or attitude. Others, before the introduction of the dry plate in the early 1880s, were able to escape the confines of the studio by taking their darkrooms with them to the baseball field.

My own favorite: this gorgeous portrait of a black catcher staring through his mask. For twenty years, the heroic nature of this portrait kept suggesting to me that the subject was someone important and that I needed to discover his story. After a lot of research, it turned out that he was important, and came within inches of crossing the color line. There are even some accounts that he did. I just love the white below his irises, like a boxer in a fight poster.

Good idea Paul, I love the 19th century stuff now.
Gary, I think we had had a thread earlier where Kevin proved that image was the earliest of the 1869 ones. Anyway, here is one with a date along with George and Henry Chadwick.

Gary: I agree with you that pricing on most baseball photographs (other than Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, and Jackson) is inexplicably low. At the same time, I’m a net buyer of photographs, so I like it that way. I would be happy to see prices go down.

Bruce: Great images. Any idea what processes were used to make your Chadwick prints? Dates?

Leon: That’s such an oddly compelling image. I wish I could unravel it.

Correct Gary. Interestingly, there are apparently a couple of this same image out there. Mine has "Lon Kinch" written on the back but the other has written in old oxidized ink "L T Kinch catcher 1st Nine of Columbia Base Ball Club" with a Bordentown, NJ backmark.

Rob M

P.S. Some interesting back story on Kinch. This extensive research was done by JL, one of the really good guys who I wish would post on here more but he has shied away in recent years.

The Columbia Base Ball Club was a member of the NABBP and played, against others, the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia in 1866.

Kinch was co-delegate of his club at the ninth NABBP convention in 1865.

Worked as a photographer. Partner to Lafayette Swain and also had a studio with brother Israel Howard Kinch.

April 24, 1867 NJ Mirror:

A sad accident occurred in the vicinity of Bordentown, on Monday of last week (presumably a reference to April 15, 1867), the particulars of which we find in the Register. The whole town was thrown into a state of excitement on Monday evening, by the news of the accidental shooting of Mr. Leonidas T. Kinch, elder son of the Mayor. It appears that the unfortunate young man, in company with John Steele, a relative, had been gunning from 8 A. M. on Monday, until dusk, when they returned in a boat, landing at the lime-kiln wharf. both had left the boat, when it was discovered that the rifle of Mr. Kinch had not been taken out, and the latter returned for it. Taking hold of the end of the barrel, he was drawing it towards him, when the hammer caught and was raised. In its fall, the gun was discharged. His companion, seeing him fall, ran to his assistance, and inquired where he was shot. He said in the thigh, and complained of intense pain in his knee. Poor fellow! little did he know how seriously he was wounded, as the sequel will prove. A settee was procured and the wounded young man borne to his young wife and parents. All the surgical skill of the city was summoned at once, and while the sufferer's pains were being relieved, a large assemblage gathered about the house, anxious to know the extent of his injuries. He was pronounced to be relieved somewhat of his pain, and about 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning was again pronounced to be getting along very encouragingly. Alas! the ease he enjoyed at the latter hour, was only the precursor of the fatal moment, which arrived about an hour later--quarter past 9 o'clock. The news of his death soon spread, and a shadow of gloom overspread the whole city. A post-mortem examination of the body was made on Tuesday, and it was discovered that the ball had passed through the right lung, through the liver, and lodged in the vertebrae. The physicians were surprised, under the circumstances, that he survived as long as he did. As to the personal worth of the young man, who has been so suddenly cut off from life, it is almost superfluous to speak.--Nearly every public association in the city had his name enrolled as a member. He was Assistant Engineer of the Fire Department, a respected member of the Masonic fraternity and Odd Fellows, Assistant Paymaster of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, and Treasurer of the Columbia Base Ball Club. No young man had fairer prospects, more friends, or was more generally respected. His age was 26 years.

Great thread Paul. Here's one of my favorites of Antle Lambert's family on the Janice Hill Farm in Logan County, Ohio. Being a glove guy, I love the gloves he is wearing. They are similar to the glove on Javan Emory's left hand in Paul's pic.

I thought I would share this albumen image from 1866, my first acquisition. In my very biased and self-interested opinion, it’s ingeniously composed, overcoming the limitations of the common team photograph, with men in rows like schoolchildren.

Union Generals George Custer and Alfred Pleasonton in Warrenton Virginia, October 9 1863 by Timothy O’Sullivan.

What do you see in that photograph? I’m curious.

Removing the constraint of baseball as subject matter, I would choose the series of portraits of Lincoln conspirator Lewis Powell by Alexander Gardner—in my opinion, among the strongest portraits ever made.

I'm a little late the party here and do hope to post some more pics of our 19th C. images (CDV's, tins, cabinets, etc) later on, but here is one to get me started.

I've never seen another one like this...a boxed, c. mid 1870s, double paned tin type that includes both seated and action poses. If anyone has another similar example, please share as I'd love to see one!

Upon receipt of this photo, I did a little bit of digging to try to learn about its origin. In doing so, I came across the following article from the September 19, 1892 edition of the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier (page 3):

“The new Shutter Club was granted a charter Saturday by the Attorney General. The club was organized July 9th at Mouse Island, and is the result of the refusal of the old Shutters to play base ball this season with the juvenile shutters, giving them a chance to regain their old name of Loon Club. The juveniles concluded that as they could not be Loons, they would be Shutters, and the only ones in the State, so they became incorporated, and will, they say, drive the old Shutter out of business. The headquarters of the club is Rockland.

The club has adopted the old Loon Club plan of having an annual dinner and summer outing.”

Every player in the photograph is mentioned in the article. What I found to be pretty cool was, other than every player rocking those amazing mustaches, the two ring bats, and the spelling of “Mascott” – check out the guy in the upper left. Perhaps one of the first documented baseball “photobombs”  It appears that he is wearing a “Shutters” jersey. Based on the article, my guess is he was not supposed to be there!

It pictures the Wheeling Nailers playing a game on May 19, 1887. Something about having such a clear panoramic of what the game was like in the late 19th century, with players actually not posing, is really appealing to me. This is actual game action. I feel like it harkens back to some of the origins of the game most fans hold dear. Just a small town game with a couple hundred fans when the professional game was still somewhat of a new thing.

But then again, some of the great Tomlinson cabinets are friggin' incredible. I wanna paint them all.

This is one of three Civil War-related baseball images of which I’m aware. One is a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) image like this one, but with better composition, and the other is a game in progress at Fort Pulaski. The Pulaski image has always bothered me because the game looks like it might be something other than baseball. I remember reading somewhere that the Hall’s research staff had opined that it depicts baseball, but that it gave no reasoning.

Gary, that’s a great shot. I once owned a stereoview of that image. I believe it has a notation on the verso stating that it was taken in a place that would indicate it was from the Indian Wars. I would consider that conjectural until the stereoview can be located again.

This is one of three Civil War-related baseball images of which I’m aware. One is a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) image like this one, but with better composition, and the other is a game in progress at Fort Pulaski. The Pulaski image has always bothered me because the game looks like it might be something other than baseball. I remember reading somewhere that the Hall’s research staff had opined that it depicts baseball, but that it gave no reasoning.

Please let me know what you think of this image, good or bad.

Nice image Paul. Interesting content. Those uniforms are definitely Indian War period so I'd put the image c. 1870's.

It pictures the Wheeling Nailers playing a game on May 19, 1887. Something about having such a clear panoramic of what the game was like in the late 19th century, with players actually not posing, is really appealing to me. This is actual game action. I feel like it harkens back to some of the origins of the game most fans hold dear. Just a small town game with a couple hundred fans when the professional game was still somewhat of a new thing.

But then again, some of the great Tomlinson cabinets are friggin' incredible. I wanna paint them all.

G

Graig - You hit it on the nail (no pun intended) with this photo. I used to have it as my background on my computer. It is the best, and clearest, depiction of a 19th century game that I have come across. I didn't know that there was a broader view, like the one you posted, or that it was identified. The view I had was much closer but, unfortunately, I can't find it now. I just now pulled the image below from the internet which isn't as good. I'll keep looking for the more detailed view because you can clearly make out the chicken wire backstop, the scorers in the scoring box (with the canopy over them), the telegraph wire running up from the scoring box and behind the stadium, the "home club" sign, the two African-American men standing on the field in front of the scoring box and that's not even to mention the game and the players.

Nineteenth century photographers—not one of whom devoted themselves exclusively or even largely to baseball as a subject—were sometimes able to capture stunning images in their studios by manipulating lighting, pose, or attitude. Others, before the introduction of the dry plate in the early 1880s, were able to escape the confines of the studio by taking their darkrooms with them to the baseball field.

My own favorite: this gorgeous portrait of a black catcher staring through his mask. For twenty years, the heroic nature of this portrait kept suggesting to me that the subject was someone important and that I needed to discover his story. After a lot of research, it turned out that he was important, and came within inches of crossing the color line. There are even some accounts that he did. I just love the white below his irises, like a boxer in a fight poster.

That's a great image. A close up of the photo shows a ultra rare lace up catching glove.

Sucks I couldn't find the complete image. Anyway, the transition from catching glove to catching mitt, circa 1889-90. This one's a "Decker Patent Safety Mitt". Harry Decker was hard up for money and sold the patent to Spalding. Notice the button wrist strap. Odd that despite their popularity, I don't recall any of the originals surfacing into the hobby.